Fuel Economy Rating:

The M2 has two fewer driven wheels than the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 and the Audi RS3, yet it’s thirstier than both at the pump. The BMW has standard automatic stop/start technology to counteract consumption, but its EPA estimates and real-world fuel economy exceed only the heavier V-8–powered alternatives.

The automatic and manual M2 share an EPA-rated 26 mpg highway. However, those who save the manual will lose 2 mpg around town—so says the government.

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared, BMW M2 Automatic

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared, BMW M2 Manual

We’ve devised our own fuel-economy test in an attempt to replicate how most people drive on the highway. Our procedure entails a 200-mile out-and-back loop on Michigan’s I-94 highway. We maintain a GPS-verified 75 mph and use the cruise control as much as possible to mimic the way many drivers behave during long trips.

While we’ve yet to test a manual M2 on our fuel loop, the automatic version had an impressive run that returned 28 mpg—2 mpg better than advertised. Still, the quicker competitors in its class exceeded that figure and their own EPA estimates. The BMW also has a short highway range, which was as annoying as the uncomfortable driver’s seat that this writer endured on a road trip from Michigan to Kentucky.

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The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

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Take one look at the RS3, from its large front air intakes to the massive tailpipes, and you know it’s ready to rock.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

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BMW’s pint-sized M2 harkens back to the original small, swift, and snappy M car, the E30-gen M3.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.